Train of Woes

This post is based from my devotional book entitled coffee break devotions. I have read this book every night and it always gave me new insights about life as well as encouragements during difficult times. I have copied some of the words but have changed some to my own ideas.

Why is it that the bad things in life seems to gang up on us? It can be small annoyances like the alarm doesn't go off, the jeepney is too slow and you're late for work, your boss is not satisfied with your work. It can be major ones like dealing with serious diseases, financial problems or death. When a train of negative events arrives in our station, we often take it personally and we ask God, "why me?"

Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

God allows these things to come our way and He assured us that when we are faced with difficult circumstances we can always come to Him. God may not get rid of our burdens immediately but I'm sure He will help us carry our load so we can finish the race. We don't need to waste our time and energy blaming others, blaming ourselves or blaming God. What we can do is to turn to Him and ask for peace of mind and strength to rise above.

"When the train of woes pulls into your station, climb aboard -- just be sure to talk to the Conductor."

happy thougths

It was quite a gloomy morning in our town today because of the dark clouds covering the sky. I dragged myself out of my bed and took a bath. I know I will be late for work but my mind doesn't seem to care. It was already 7am when I had my breakfast and my work is at 8am. It would be an hour and 30 min ride to my workplace. I waited for the van and thank God no rain has fallen on my head yet. I sat near the window to avoid the air condition to blow on my face. Passengers beside and behind me are busy chatting and doing their own business, while I look past the rice fields and houses on the roadside. Rain started to fall but little sunshine still made its way to my window. I tightened my jacket since it was getting colder inside the van, as rain pours outside.

My thoughts were on the time and my work, when I saw something outside the window. At first I thought it's just a reflection of that little sunshine, but when trees cleared my view, there it was above the fields and over the mountains. I saw the rainbow. It was a perfect bow.

My gloomy day turned gay. Happy thoughts started to fill my cluttered mind. I thought of the pot of gold, I even thought of a leprechaun! I thought of playing in the field with that colorful bow above my head. I though of dancing in the rain with my little sunshine and the rainbow watching over me. It's like magic, what can a sight of a rainbow do to my imagination. A smile started to paint on my face, but deep inside I know that joy radiates to my soul. It gave me peace. It gave me hope.

Now it's 11am. Laziness and boredom are eating my veins. I have to tell myself, think of that rainbow. I have to force myself, think of happy thoughts.

Are you from Apes?

As I was doing my usual tasks on social bookmarking, a friend from Digg, David Hallstrom, shouted to me his article and the title made me curious. So I read through it and something in it stirred some thoughts and it really made sense. Here's the article.

Why Can't The Theories of Evolution And Creationism Co-Exist?

I am not a scientist or a religious authority, therefore my question "Why Can't The Theories of Evolution And Creationism Co-Exist?" may seem unintelligent, however it seems to me that the theories of evolution and creationism can be merged.

It is my understanding that the theory of evolution basically holds that mankind evolved from a lower species over numerous generations through natural selection, gene flow, genetic drift and other selective forces.

It is my understanding that the theory of creationism basically holds that mankind, the earth and everything else was created by a supreme being or god.

When people say that "god created the heavens and the earth in six days and on the seventh he rested", who can say how long one of god's days is. Why are we so egotistical as to believe that his day is the same as ours. We don't know god (Most of us who believe in god do so because we want to not because we have proof.) but if there is a god why can't his, her or it's day be a thousand or a million or even several billion of our years.

Chapter 2, verse 7 of the book of Geneses states "then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." It does not state how long this took or what form the being we call man originally took. God's image can be many things. We have no way of knowing. Additionally, although the bible is supposed to be the word of god, it was written by humans and therefore subject to human interpretation.

When we create something we start out with one thing and then add to it and alter it until we finish and with some creations, such as a garden, we never finish adding to and altering it. Who says that god could not have started with one cell and through evolution added to it and altered it until it became a human being. Who can say for sure that he, she or it is still not adding to and altering mankind. Who can say that god did not make us in such a way that we would continue to evolve without his, her or it's intervention. Who can say that the process is finished. Chapter 2 verse 1 of the book of Genesis states "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.". I have not found any place in the bible that states humans were finished.

It is said that "god created man in his own image". Since no one has ever seen god who can say what that image is. Who knows what humans will look like or how they will think in a thousand, ten thousand or one hundred thousand years. Maybe someday all humans will look and think exactly alike. Maybe someday all humans will merge into one being.

If there is a being powerful enough to create us then that being would be so far above us that we could not possibly understand it's thought processes or how it created or is creating us. We can not know what is intended for us or how or if things will end.

No human knows or understands everything. No human can state beyond all doubt that there is or isn't a god. No human is infallible. Anything is possible, even the possibility that evolution and creationism are part of the same process.

Inspiriation from Blog Hopping

I was blog hopping yesterday when I came across Carey's blog. Carey is a 50 year old retired fire fighter/emt/peace officer. The title of his first post did not quite interest me but what caught my attention was this so I scrolled down and read the entry. At first I thought it was just "another blog" but after I've read the post I knew it was extraordinary. Carey was also a cancer survivor and is recently working as a volunteer chaplain helping crime victims and victims of disasters. I asked him if I could repost his entry and he willingly said yes, so read on and be inspired.

Cramming For Finals

I was never one to attend to my studies as I should have while attending school. I had a tendency to procrastinate and ended up many times cramming for my exams. I would have been a better student and received better grades had I prepared myself well before my tests and assignments. I had far more potential than my grades indicated and had know one to blame but myself. I do not want to repeat this scenario in my Christian walk. I want to study to show myself approved and do my best in the Lord's service. I desire more than mediocrity and want to take advantage of the precious finite amount of time I have on this earth. Service to our Lord and Savior is the highest calling and we should have a keen desire to be the best we can be as His ambassadors. This Turning Point Ministry devotional addresses this well.

Every time a particular young boy went to his playmate's house, he noticed his friend's grandmother studying her Bible. Finally one day he asked,"Why is your grandmother always reading that Bible?' His friend answered," I don't know, but I think she is cramming for her finals."
In reality, that grandmother was doing exactly what we, as Christians, should all do: preparing for whatever task God had for her by studying His Word.
More often than not, it is the journey rather than the destination that matters most in life; for it is the lessons learned, the trials endured, and the truths discovered that mold our character and prepare us for that destination. If we desire more than a mediocre life, we must prepare in more than a mediocre way. "Winging it" doesn't bring about the best results, so we would do well to use the time God has given us along the way to prepare for what's ahead.

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Luke 12:40

If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six hours sharpening my ax. Abraham Lincoln

Kung Fu Fighting

Everybody was kung-fu fighting
Those cats were fast as lightning
In fact it was a little bit frightning
But they fought with expert timing

Last Saturday we watched our most-awaited film ~~ Kung Fu Panda.
We were already there at the theater 30 minutes before the movie starts, we were so excited, we bought lots of food which we didn't finished eating until the end of the movie. Everybody inside the theater really enjoyed because we can hear lots of laughs and giggles.

The story is about a fat panda who aspires to be a kung fu warrior. By believing in his dream he became a respected kung fu warrior in his own special way.

I love pandas and I always dream of having one ehehe so I was really fascinated by this film. The story was great and I learned a lot from it. "Belive in yourself, "it is special because you believe it is special, there are no secret ingredients," "there are no accidents" are just some of the inspiring lines from the movie.

The movie also featured voices of famous actors and actresses like Jack Black as Po (the panda), Dustin Hoffman as Shifu (the red panda), Angelina Jolie as Tigress, Jackie Chan as Monkey, Seth Rogen as Mantis, Lucy Liu as Viper and David Cross as Crane.

It also received positive feedback from critics and movie reviews so I'm sure this will be a hit!

Stubborn Love

Stubborn Love

Caught again. Your faithless friend.
Don't You ever tire of hearing
What a fool I've been?
Guess I should pray,
But what can I say?
Oh, it hurts to know the hundred times
I've caused You pain.

The "forgive me" sounds so empty
When I never change.
Yet You stay and say, "I love you still,"
Forgiving me time and time again.


CHORUS:
It's Your stubborn love
That never lets go of me.
I don't understand how You can stay -
Perfect love embracing the worst in me
How I long for Your stubborn love.


Funny me.
Just couldn't see
Even long before I knew You,
You were loving me.
Sometimes I cry -
You must cry, too
when You see the broken promises
I've made to you.
I keep saying that I'll trust You
Though I seldom do.
Yet You stay and say You love me still,
Knowing some day I'll be like You.


CHORUS:

It's Your stubborn love
That never lets go of me.
I don't understand how You can stay -
Perfect love embracing the worst in me.
And You never let me go -
I believe I finally know
I can't live without Your stubborn love!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hearing this song and watching the video I found on youtube nearly made me cry (at the office). I remember my sins and how God gave His Son to save me. I remembered how many times I've asked for forgiveness for my repeated sins, yet God showed me His unconditional love. I remembered the times I'm crying out and saying I'll change but I never did. I'm ashamed to look back on those broken promises..I tried to walk away..but God draws me near, embracing me and loving me still. It's true, God loved me stubbornly and I can't live without His stubborn love.

God's Love is extravagant

I made this video on one true media..and I love the song!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate
I feel I'm moving to the rhythm of Your grace
Your fragrance is intoxicating in the secret place
Cause Your love is extravagant

Chorus:
Spread wide in the arms of Christ there's a love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known; You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again

Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate
I feel I'm moving to the rhythm of Your grace
Your fragrance is intoxicating in the secret place
Your love is extravagant

I want to JUMP to Bahamas

JUMPER - a recent science fiction film that I watched on Robinson's mall theater.
- directed by Doug Liman, starred Hayden Christensen, Jamie Bell and Samuel L. Jackson
- its trailer I saw after I've already watched the movie
- interesting plot
- expensive sci-fi movie
- many great places shown in the movie
- nice graphics
- received mostly negative reviews


When I saw this movie as a next attraction on movie theaters, I was so eager to watch it. I was curious and excited on the character's adventures. With its tag line, "Anywhere is possible," it has drawn people to the theaters. But critics gave backward reviews about the film.
According to James Hannaham, "Jumper tells us that Americans fantasize about getting rich by stealing and going everywhere they want without restrictions; that they are materialistic, disrespect foreign antiquities, and remain blind to their own and to world history." Yes, I totally agree with his statement. I haven't learned any values from the movie. Each one of us has somehow dreamed to be a jumper, the movies gave us the idea that if we can go anywhere we want, we can have and be whatever we want. Samuel Jackson's character was supposed to be "the good" character for me, except that they brutally kill jumpers. Since jumpers steal and destroy, they must be eliminated and as what Jackson always say, "only God can have those powers." But in the end, the jumpers still won the battle and managed to dump Jackson some place he can't even picture out where.
"It doesn't help that the performances are bland (particularly those of Christensen and Bilson) and that what comes out of their mouths is uninspired," said Claudia Puig from USA Today. I've also noticed that Christensen showed little emotions. He was not really that surprised or frightened when he teleported the first time. I never felt for the characters, I wasn't overwhelmed, I wasn't touched. Another critic from The Hollywood Reporter said that all the state-of-the-art visual effects in the world can't compensate for spotty plotting and bland characters that prevent an intriguing premise from going the distance. Wesley Morris commented, "But what can you do with Hayden Christensen? He's as close as we have to an android actor. It's all a chore for him. He never looks sufficiently scared, impressed, or surprised by any of this."
There are so many questions that haven't been answered on the film, like why do they have the ability to teleport around the world? Why is there a war between jumpers and paladins? What will now happen to Roland and to all other paladins? If they're planning to answer these questions on part 2 of Jumper, they better look into all the criticisms the movie got and make a better sci-fi movie next time.
Anyway, I still enjoyed the movie though. I still somehow dreamed to jump from Iloilo to Bahamas haha :)

The gift

Have you ever received a gift? Is it the most special gift you ever received? Here's a song about "a gift," a very special gift, an answer to a prayer, a gift you wouldn't want to loose, a gift you want to thank God for everyday.

winter snow is falling down
children laughing all around
lights are turning on
like a fairy tale come true

sitting by the fire we made
you're the answer when i prayed
i would find someone
and baby i found you

all i want is to hold you forever
all i need is you more every day
you saved my heart
from being broken apart
you gave your love away
and i'm thankful every day
for the gift

watching as you softly sleep
what i'd give if i could keep
just this moment
if only time stood still

but the colors fade away
and the years will make us grey
but baby in my eyes
you'll still be beautiful

all i want is to hold you forever
all i need is you more every day
you saved my heart
from being broken apart
you gave your love away
and i'm thankful every day
for the gift

all i want is to hold you forever
all i need is you more every day
you saved my heart
from being broken apart
you gave your love away
i can't find the words to say
that i'm thankful every day
for the gift

Take good care of your gifts!
Happy heart's month :)

A collection of Diecast models

Fantastic Flyers is a website that offers diecast collectible aircrafts and vehicles. It has a wide range of products from from the leading manufacturers of diecast models.

It's models are from Corgi, Witty, Armour Collection by Franlin Mint, IXO, Model Power, Postage stamp planes, Showcase collection, Forces of Valor, Hobby Masters, Highway 61, Yat Ming and many others.

They also have a complete line of Space Voyagers Adventure sets from Space 1999, UFO, Stingray, Supercar and Rocket XL5.

Check out this interesting site and shop for your favorite collectibles.
There are special products on sale this February.